TWO thugs have admitted savagely beating a university lecturer, leaving him with life-changing injuries, during a violent burglary.

Mariusz Tomaszewski and Pawel Honc were part of a gang of four burglars who broke into the south London home of wealthy academic Paul Kohler.

Mr Kohler, 55, was brutally attacked during the raid and suffered severe facial injuries as well as horrific bruising which caused his whole face to swell.

The Polish gang carried out the savage beating while demanding money from the multi-millionaire, as his terrified daughter hid upstairs.

They then threatened to hit him over the head with a wooden cabinet when police burst in and arrested Tomaszewski and Honc.

Following the incident, Mr Kohler was left in hospital for several days with a fractured eye socket and needed facial reconstruction surgery.

I would like to know why they did it - we still don't know

Paul Kohler

The academic still suffers blurred vision almost four months after the attack in his Wimbledon home on August 11 this year.

Honc, 23, of no fixed address, Tomaszewski, 32, from Mitcham, south London, Oskar Pawlowichz, 29, also from Mitcham and Dawid Tychon, 29, of no fixed address, all pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary at Kingston Crown Court today.

Honc and Tomaszewski also admitted causing grievous bodily harm with intent, while charges of GBH against the other two defendants were dropped after they pleaded not guilty.

Today Mr Kohler said he was "ecstatic and pleased" with the thug's guilty pleas.

The academic, who also part owns a bar on London's The Strand said: "I need to look in their eyes first. I would have to see them say it to me.

"I would like to meet them. I would like to know why they did it - we still don't know.

"I was saying to them I don't have any money - I'm an academic for God's sake.

"I want to know why they thought I had any. The bar isn't an explanation because everyone knows it is all cards these days, there is no cash."

PH

Oskar Pawlowichz pleaded guilty to aggravated burglary

Barristers for all four men told Judge Susan Tapping their clients wanted to express their "sincere regret and apologies" for the violent burglary.

But speaking after the brief hearing, Mr Kohler, whose view of the defendants was blocked by frosted glass, said he would like to meet them face-to-face before he accepted their apologies.

Asked how he has been coping since the horrific attack, Mr Kohler said: "I'm great, fine wonderful. I have continuing trouble with my vision on the left and my wife and children are still quite traumatised by it all.

"It has been a very fast process. The police have been brilliant. They got there within a few minutes and I'm sure they saved me from something worse.

"They (the attackers) were threatening to bring down the door of the wooden cabinet on my head when the police arrived.

"I'm pleased (about the guilty pleas), it's just a pity I couldn't see them."